Sunday, December 27, 2009

I'm still loving my fitted diapers, after almost a solid year of using primarily fitted diapers. And now they're made even better- with WOOL!!!

My babies are wearing wool skirts (on the girl, obviously), wool shorts, wool pants, wool soakers... They have interlock wool, knit wool, and recycled wool (pants/soakers made out of old sweaters and re-purposed into new clothes!) I pick out a cute fitted, pick out a cute wool piece to put over it, and they're good-to-go! I'm absolutely in LOVE with this combo. It's working so well for both babies, that neither of them wears "normal" clothing anymore!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

I keep telling myself to stop buying more diapers- I have MORE than enough diapers for 5 babies, and I only have 2 babies! ;) But it's an addiction... the searching for, buying, and receiving diapers and diapering things keeps me going sometimes. It's my crack!!! I don't drink coffee, I don't drink alcohol... I buy diapers!

And yes, even I realize how pitiful that is. And what a waste of money. And I know I should just stop and be happy with what I have... But what fun would that be? :D

Hi... my name is Bum Bumbler. I'm a cloth-diapering addict, and I've been clean for 1-1/2 hours. ;)

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Well, far be it for me not to try the newest cloth diaper-safe, environmentally happy detergent! So I got a couple sample bags (okay, I have 19 of them...) to try. They smell GREAT. It's like air freshener for my stinky laundry room, just having the packages in there! And the make-up of the stuff is pretty cool- it's little flakes, almost, rather than granules.

How does it work? Well... the jury is still out. I thought it cleaned okay... better than my other "planet-safe" detergents. But after a week of using it, I noticed nighttime diaper stink... ammonia smell wafting out of the diapers, and little bums starting to break out. But then I realized both babies are teething, so the rashes could be a coincidence.

I went back to Tide (good ol' Tide) for a couple weeks so I could start over again, and I'm trying Rockin' Green again now. So far so good... the diapers appear clean, and smell clean out of the washer. The nighttime test begins!!!

Saturday, November 28, 2009

The Flip wasn't a good match for us... I just can't stand the snaps on the BumGenius diapers- they lay wonky if they aren't opened all the way, so I didn't keep The Flip long. But as far as absorbency goes, those organic inserts were UNBEATABLE!!!

I also got some custom fitted diapers... I had them made with a shorter rise for my tiny little girl, so I wouldn't have to fold down the rise. Well, they came... and I still have to fold down the rise- kind of defeated the purpose of getting more custom diapers! ;)

Now, the Fishnoodles Solo Flyers- those are pretty cool AI2 diapers! I have had some leaks from wicking at the legs of mine, but it's because I ordered larges and my little guy really only needs mediums now. But what a cool, side-snapping diaper! I wasn't expecting to be surprised, but I was!

You win some and you lose some with diapers... the fun is in the trying. ;)

Thursday, November 5, 2009

First wearing of The Flip. I put it on my little guy, and I was impressed by the fit and the function. It's gimmicky, but I like it. The insert is thicker, and therefore more absorbent than the BG Organics. And I also like how it comes out so you can dry it easier- like a prefold. Of course, I hate the snap positions, the same as I did with the BG Organics... I can't get them to lay flat, and I that drives me NUTS! Still, I went in with high hopes...

But alas! This is *MY* baby testing the diaper. Fifteen minutes after I put it on him, I heard the grunting. Distracted, I didn't get to him right away. Then I look over, and he has pulled the snaps off on one side, and the diaper is half hanging there! I grabbed him up, go lay him down... the poop has smeared all over his thigh, belly, and bum. In taking the diaper off (poop now also on the cover, so it can't be re-used as it's designed for), I get poop on MY hands. Then my little guy actually GRABS a Tootsie Roll and almost sticks it in his mouth- and I'm not talking candy here. I ended up grabbing him by the ankles and hands and throwing him in the bathtub *gag*.

Is it The Flips fault? Of course not... But this is the FIRST snapping diaper he has unhooked on his own! And it wasn't cool that I couldn't re-use the shell. But on the other hand, it was easy to spray off, and the insert also sprayed off easily.

But now I have to work up the courage to try, try again. 'Cause I sure didn't succeed the first time!!! ;)

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

I bit the bullet... CottonBabies (makers of BumGenius) came out with a new product- The Flip. A snapping shell with prefold-like inserts that you put inside, and then re-use the cover. I bought a day pack- 2 shells with 6 inserts.

Trust me.... I did NOT need any more diapers! But something like this comes out, and I just.... Well, I'll just say that the diapers arrived yesterday and are already prepped and ready to go for today. I bought the organic version- they're supposed to be quite absorbent!

Monday, October 5, 2009

To my diapering, that is... ;) I've been using cloth diapers exclusively on my little guy for a over year now! A disposable hasn't touched his bum in the whole time. And I have NEVER used a disposable wipe on him. I don't know why it seems like a big deal, but it does!

I must say... although there are moments when I think, "Oh man... disposables would be SO MUCH EASIER!" (like when I was without a washer for 3 weeks), the temptation doesn't last beyond a couple moments... okay, hours. Well, a day tops. ;)

Thursday, September 24, 2009

I guess it's just part of the whole cloth-diapering obsession. If you post on the diapering boards, you are exposed to pictures of babies wearing wool, people talking about wool, and links to all the gorgeous wool. I'm talking about knitted wool- from beautiful, hand-dyed yarn.

I tried to avoid it for a long time, because it's an expensive addiction- even more than diapers. But I guess you can only be a martyr for so long... ;)

So instead of buying the $40-60 yarn and paying someone $60-80 to knit a pair of pants, I bought undyed yarn and am dying it myself. And I bought some needles and am teaching myself to knit.

So far, I have discovered that I am inept at working the needles, and that painting wool is not as easy as painting on paper. But hey! I may have the ugliest woolies on the block, but at least they'll be homemade and the babies wearing them will be too young to be embarrassed about wearing them! ;)

Thursday, September 17, 2009

That's what you have when you cloth-diaper 2 babies and............. your washer poops out on you! My 3.5-year-old front load washer won't spin the water out of the clothes/diapers, so we've been dealing with having to go days without washing... And yes, my house is starting to smell like I have cows sleeping in my laundry room...

Okay, no, it's not that bad... I haven't had U-Hauls showing up at the neighbors' houses so they can move away from me. Haven't had any air freshener cans thrown at my house... I was able to trick my machine into spinning the water out, but the diapers didn't get CLEAN, and it's really gag-o-riffic in my laundry room at the moment.

So yeah- learning a valuable lesson right now: When you cloth diaper, you must, MUST, *MUST* have a workable, reliable washer!!!

Monday, September 7, 2009

I've been spoiled by my laundry line! My diapers spent the summer blowing in the breeze outside, and the sun worked wonders on the would-be stains. But the poor weather has hit the Northwest where I live... and my diapers are definitely the worse for wear! I am still hanging them to dry- on my indoor rack- but when there's no sun, there are blackberry and blueberry lovelies left behind!

Ho hum... I guess my diapers will be looking a bit ragged for 9 months out of the year. Guess I'll appreciate summer all the more now! ;)

Monday, August 10, 2009

I used BumGenius 3.0 diapers at the beginning.... But we would literally be gagging every time my baby boy peed in them- the ammonia smell was awful. I switched to hemp after that, and it worked better with less stink.

Recently I bought some more AIO diapers- Swaddlebees all-in-ones. They're really great diapers, the fit is awesome and they work great! But the absorbent part is microfiber... and I am starting to get whiffs of STINK.

The way to fix microfiber stink in inserts is to bleach them. But with an AIO, you shouldn't bleach them because the bleach breaks down elastic. So yeah... with this second round, I'm finally learning my lesson- MICROFIBER STINKS!!!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

I recently ordered a couple (or a couple more than that) soakers from a really awesome mom. She makes these out of recycled wool, with wool interlock for the legs and waistband. You get to pick your wool, pick your size, and pick your embroidery- and they're an awesome price for a custom item like this!

I soooo didn't need another addiction... but at least the babies are going to look stylin', right? :)

Saturday, August 1, 2009

I started with 3 little plastic bins on a little bookshelf. It held all my diapers, and the bins weren't even full. Well, that was over a year ago!!!

I've added storage as I've added diapers, and this is the result... A gigantic eyesore in my family room!!! But surprisingly, it's not even big enough to hold all the diapers when they're all clean!

I'm left wondering what comes next... I'm not ready to simplify my stash, I'm actually doing the opposite- making it more diverse. And I like to see all my diapers at a glance! So I guess the conclusion could only be this: Stay tuned for the thread called "The Wall of Diapers". ;)

Friday, July 17, 2009

Well, it's been over a year since I first started buying cloth diapers. And admittedly, I've had a bit of diaper A.D.D... I went from using strictly pockets, to strictly AIOs, to strictly fitteds. Once I found the fitted love, I figured that was it from there on out... but I was wrong!

Don't get me wrong, I still love my fitteds... But lately I've been buying AIOs again- and even pockets!!! And for some reason, using all-natural fibers has dropped on my list of priorities. I grab whatever I'm in the mood for, or whatever my babies will allow me to put on them without alligator-rolling or launching off my legs with their strong feet. Snaps and velcro have become my friends again, after being a pin-only girl for quite some time.

There's nothing wrong with variety, it prevents boredom. And hey- it'll all come out in the wash, literally! ;)

Saturday, July 4, 2009

When I first told my sister I was going to do cloth diapers with my baby, she said, "Yeah, I give that 2 weeks and then you'll give up." I seemed to get that reaction from a lot of people... Other people just said, "Why on earth would you do that???!!!"

Well, my son is 11 months old today. And I can happily say- he hasn't worn a disposable diaper in over 9 months. And I'm not just doing it for spite- I thoroughly enjoy using cloth diapers. Sure, I've had my bumbles, I've had moments where I thought, "Wouldn't disposables just be EASIER???" (And truthfully, yes, they would- SHHHH!) But when all is said and done, I have no intention of going back to disposables. Ever. Period. Exclamation point.

I'd even go so far as to say I'm stuck to them like peanut butter poo on a bamboo liner- and if you don't know what that means, you aren't doing cloth diapers- so what's wrong with you??? ;)

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Well, after finding the fitted love for my little guy, I assumed fitteds were for everybody. They're not. Fitteds don't work on my new little girl! I had the most AWESOME girly fitted newborn stash for her, too! I just couldn't get them to work. The fitteds were great... it was covering them that I had trouble with. I tried wool, but she peed right out of the diapers and wool. And then I tried PUL but it ate at her tiny legs. I was getting so frustrated that I gave up and bought some AIOs (the Bum-Ware Organics, by the way) and it was just.....

AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! A huge sigh of relief. My fitteds for her were GORGEOUS! 6 Sticky Peas NRSS, 6 Scuttlebutts, 5 other various newborn fitteds... but I was miserable.

So my lesson? Just because I love one type of diaper on one baby, doesn't mean I'll love it on the other. :)

Monday, June 15, 2009

I just don't get it.... I don't get it how babies instinctively KNOW you are putting on a brand-new diaper on them! You put it on, you think, "How cute!" and you admire it for a bit. And then you hear it..... PLLLLPPPPPHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! The christening of the new diaper. It is really the law of diaper nature that your baby will poop in the new diaper within 10 minutes of putting it on them for the first time. :)

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

These are my Sticky Peas... One of the TWO brands of diapers I still own after reaching Stash Nirvana!

Sticky Peas are a highly sought-after diaper at the moment... They're one people have to "score". Literally, they go up for sale at 2 o'clock, and they are sold out by 2:01. People sit and refresh, refresh, refresh right before they go on sale, and they hope to get one. There might be 10 diapers stocked, and 150 people going for them. They are TOUGH to get!

Why are they so sought-after? They're AWESOME!!!! They come in adorable prints, they are well-made, and they are so very absorbent! Inside is a soaker, and an included doubler that is wool-backed. They come in sized fitteds- with snaps, or in a one-size diaper that can be pinned or Snappied.

I was lucky enough to get to "know" Claudia- the workhorse behind Sticky Peas. And I was SOOO very spoiled by her- all but 2 of the diapers shown were custom-made for me. Claudia is a very sweet Superwoman!!!

The newest diapers she is making are newborn-sized.... So obviously I had to try those out on my teeny, tiny new girl! And they don't disappoint- they're WONDERFUL! The stack on the left is newborn diapers.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Some of my first reviews were of BWX diapers- Bum-Ware Extreme. I loved them for their trimness and absorbency, and for their very durable aplix. But then I started using natural fibers in my diapers- sticking with cotton and bamboo, and I stopped using my BWX.

But today, I stumbled on the news that they will be coming out with organic bamboo in June!!! This has me very excited... I've been using strictly fitteds for quite some time, but I will definitely be trying these new diapers! The regular BWX were AWESOME for under pants and for other times when trimness was a necessity- I'd love that again, but in natural fibers!

And hey, now I have two bums to cloth! One jumbo and one teeny weeny! Maybe I'll give these a test run on both!!! :)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

These are so cool! And let me just say, Sarah, the work-at-home mom behind SoftBums has EXCEPTIONAL customer service!

The design is one of the coolest I've seen. It's a one-size diaper, but instead of annoying snaps that you have to snap down (and then they look ugly when they're unsnapped), there is this cool toggle system in the legs that you can adjust to fit small and bigger rises! I am so impressed with the design!!!

They have snap-in snake soakers. You can get microfiber with fleece on top, or bamboo velour. I've tried both, and they each have their strong points. The microfiber is a bit trimmer, and the bamboo is more absorbent.

What's really cool is that you can just trade out the wet soakers and use the shell over again as long as it doesn't get soiled. This is a cheaper way to go than buying a bunch of AIOs or AI2s.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Great googly mooglies, why didn't anyone tell me before how awesome they are? I had been struggling along, wiping poopies off with toilet paper or dunking in the toilet. And there would still be... you know, streakies and smearies left after that. But I kind of thought a diaper sprayer was a waste of money...

I bought one in a co-op a while back, and it finally came to my mailbox. It sat on the kitchen counter for a few days, with both my husband and myself asking, "Shouldn't we just continue with the toilet paper? It's not that big of a deal...."

Well, enter Saturday afternoon, and my hubby got bored and installed the sprayer (only took a couple minutes!) Then we both anxiously waited for our little guy to poop, cheering, "Poop! Poop! Poop!" so we could give it a whirl. And finally the poop came, and we both excitedly ran the diaper to the bathroom. And........

MIRACLE OF MIRACLES!!!!! The sprayer is AWESOME!!!! The poop- even the smearies and streakies- came right off into the toilet. No toilet paper, no dunking... Just spray and go!

If you don't have one and think you don't need one... GET ONE!!!!!!! :D

Thursday, April 30, 2009

We're experiencing the "Ouch Factor" with some of our diapers/covers! Suddenly serged diapers are irritating my little guy's thighs when they never were before! But the fleece is the real culprit... I have these ADORABLE fleece covers I had made, but the serging inside the legs and the waist ATE his skin! He has these awful red scabby places on his belly and his leg chubs. *cry*

I guess as babies get more mobile, the friction from some of the rougher materials can cause irritation- both for the baby's skin AND for the mommy's emotions!

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

When you have finally gotten EVERY diaper you felt you had to have... When there are things you COULD still have, but not that you NEED to have.... You call it "stash nirvana". And I'm THERE!

I have a few more things coming in the mail to complete my nirvana, and then I'll share what got me there- it was a long road. But for now, I can breathe a huge breath, and let it out, "Ooooooooooaaaaaammmmmmmm......"

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

I've been reading a lot lately from people who say they have gotten bored of their diapers and re-vamped their stash multiple times. This sounds somehow familiar to me... ;)

Lately, though, I haven't had that. I think it's because I've kept such a variety in my stash. Before I had all pockets, and then all AIOs... Now I have a few different types and different brands, and that seems to keep the boredom at bay.

I have my BG Organic (snapping) AIO diapers that I mostly use for going out of the house. But sometimes, I just feel lazy, and I throw one of those on him at home during the day. And I am struggling through prefolds at the moment, and I like that old-fashioned factor they provide. And then there are my fitteds- I have a variety of those that snap or use pins, and then wool, PUL, and fleece covers. I like staring at my stash for a second and deciding what I feel like using.

Keeping a variety seems to be the way not to get burned out on cloth-diapering. When you still have choices and can use whatever you're in the mood for at the time, it adds a little spice to the diapering pot- and who doesn't like a little spice? :)

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

I've discovered that I really love prefolds as doublers for overnight! I use a tri-folded preemie size in my Very Baby Simply Nights or my Sustainablebabyish bamboo, and it works GREAT as a top layer next to the skin!

So I've finally ordered some prefolds to see if I can use them with pins- like my mom used to do with me! I've owned prefolds before, but didn't use them before he outgrew them. So I'll finally be able to say I've tried it all! ;)

Friday, March 27, 2009

Yeah... I don't know why. Tide seems to work great, but I get hung up on all the "additives" and whatnot. So I've been trying others again. Right now I'm doing mostly Planet. But my diapers come out of the washer looking DIRTY! And I dabbled a little bit in Simply Clean, but again- my diapers just didn't look clean! (Although they smelled great)

I know I want to use a powdered detergent, and I know I need one that is made for HE (front-loading) washers. But other than Tide, I haven't found any that really seem to get the diapers clean. The Country Save was a joke- almost like using water alone.

I really should just give in and use Tide again, because I had NO build-up, NO repelling, hardly any stains, and NO stink. All the scare tactics about ruining diapers by using it seem to be a bunch of hooey. :)

Thursday, March 19, 2009

With disposables, you don't really have the opportunity to match your shirts to your diapers- well, unless you want your baby wearing lots of white! ;)

With cute printed diapers, you can match them to the baby's clothes. Or, in my case, you can make some shirts to match the baby's diapers! I really wanted some, but didn't want to shell out the money to have someone make them for me. So I just bought some plain t-shirts and sewed some of the fabric on them. Voila! Matchy-matchy! :D

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

I don't know how I've survived this long without using Ecover. Really. I thought crunchy diapers were a part of using cloth!

Now that I'm line-drying, especially, my diapers tend to get hard and kind of stiff. I will throw them in the dryer with my dryer balls (8 of those, by the way) to soften them up a bit after line-drying, but they are still kind of crunchy.

Well, I FINALLY found Ecover locally, and snatched it up right away. I put a cap full in the detergent compartment after taking out my covers and AIOs (it's not recommended for PUL) and the softness of the diapers when they come out is AMAZING! They're just squishy soft like when they're brand new!

If you haven't tried Ecover yet, you've got to get some! It was just over $5 for a bottle, and the bottle should last a LONG time, given the small amount I use. But what a difference it makes in the softness of the diapers! :D

Monday, March 16, 2009

With all types of diapers- prefolds, fitteds, pockets, all-in-ones (or twos), and covers- there are a variety of closure options you can choose. There seems to be a variance on personal preference when it comes to these choices!

Snappi fasteners can be used on prefold diapers or fitted diapers that don't have snaps or velcro. The "teeth" are very sharp and can grip the fabric. They are NOT to be used without a cover, because the baby could grab them and get poked by the very sharp prongs, and believe me- it hurts- I learned from experience! But they're quick and easy once you get the hang of them. Here's a link to a Snappi:http://www.bananapeelsdiapers.com/catalog.php?item=286&catid=101&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D101 (Thanks Heather at Banana Peels!)

Pocket and AIO diapers either come with velcro or snaps. Velcro is more adjustable in most cases, but tends to wear out faster. And then there's the issue of "diaper chains" where the velcro comes undone in the washer and the diapers all stick together and become a chain. But velcro is easy for dads and babysitters and anyone else who prefers to put a diaper on quickly without hassle! It's also easy for toddlers with busy hands to figure out, so there's always that chance of having a little diaper-free streaker running around your house! :D

Snaps are on some pockets, AIOs, and fitted diapers. The benefit of snaps is that they last longer than velcro, and also are harder for babies to learn to take off. The drawback is that on some diapers, it's hard to get a good fit if the snaps aren't placed well- one setting might be too loose, but the next setting is too tight, so there isn't a good adjustment- which can lead to leaks. I personally prefer snaps to velcro, but my husband gets frustrated by trying to put snapping diapers on- and on more than one occasion, I've had to re-do the snaps on diapers my husband has put on. ;)

Pins are used for prefold or fitted diapers. There is something so wholesome-feeling about using pins. If you get the hang of them, they create a very customized fit for the diapers. The drawbacks... well, the fear factor! The fear of sticking the pins into your baby or into your hand can be hard to overcome! But hey, for reasons that are hard to explain, pins just make me happy! :)

I have diapers that have velcro, some that have snaps, and some that I use pins with. Having a variety keeps me from getting bored... or something. ;)

Sunday, March 8, 2009

First off, looking at that picture, I realize how HUGENORMOUS my son's thighs are! ;)

Okay, on with the show. I wasn't a fan of the BumGenius pockets, so I didn't have high expectations for the organic snapping all-in-ones. But everything that made me NOT like the BG pockets was eliminated in these new diapers! The icky aplix was replaced with adjustable snaps. The yucky microfiber inserts were replaced by organic cotton inside. Even though I'm not a fan of mainstream diapers in general, I'm willing to make an exception with these, because they're awesome!

These are my new go-to, trim diapers for going out or for putting on him when he's going to wear jeans other trim pants. I even sold all of my Bum-Ware Extremes to buy more of these! BWX are still great diapers, but these are ORGANIC! ;)

I have to say... I'm pleasantly surprised by how much I like these. Spendy little buggers, but worth it, in my opinion!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Wagon? Waaaaaagoooooon!!! Has anyone seen my wagon? I seem to have fallen off of it and lost it... If anyone sees it, will you push me back on it, please?

It's just that with cloth diapers, any time you want to buy something you can't afford, you just have to sell the things you don't love as much... So it's really easy to fall off the wagon. It's a lot harder to get back on once you've lost it!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Well, I'm on the wagon! No more buying diapers for me. I have a bunch of packages coming in the mail- new fluffy stuff to play with- but I can't buy any more. Getting hit by the economy, which isn't so bad.... at least I already have lots of diapers to tide me over and get me through- and it means I don't have to buy disposables if our situation gets worse! :)

Thursday, February 26, 2009

I've already written reviews for 2 AIOs, but they were just two of the MANY I tried in my search for the perfect AIO!

Bum-Ware Extreme (BWX)~ My hands-down favorite of the ones I tried. Trimmer than any diapers I've tried, very durable, and absorbent for something so thin! The hook and loop on these was strong and wouldn't curl or fuzz or any of the other annoying things h&l tends to do. These diapers are awesome! They're the only AIOs I kept when I sold all my AIOs and pockets. I'm not a big fan of suedecloth, but these made it worth it to sacrifice natual fabrics for the trim fit and it NEVER got stains! I especially love the brown suedecloth.

Monkey Doodlez MICRO~ A very close second in my favorite AIOs! These aren't as trim as the BWX, but they hold a TON. I could easily trust these for naptime with my flood-boy. Microfleece inner, which again, is not my first choice. But they had a nice stay-dry effect, so I was willing to put up with it. ;) I like the velcro on these, too.

SposoEasy~ The first time I used my Sposo, it leaked like crazy. After prepping it, it worked well and I ordered more. In the meantime, my little guy started rolling, and the Sposo velcro would roll down and inward, and scratch his belly- every time he wore them! Not only that, but they weren't absorbent enough for him, and a doubler would cause the legs to gap, causing leaks. The snap version was HUGE in the waist, so medium snaps and velcro do not fit the same! I ended up selling all my Sposos because of the poor fit on my little guy.

DryBees Hybrid~ What I like most about these is the prints- really cute! But I don't care for microfiber inside diapers, and I had to stuff these diapers in order to make them absorbent, so I don't consider them a true AIO anyway!

Green Acre Designs (GAD)~ As with the pockets, these are cool but we can't do side snaps. If you LIKE microfiber, these are good. The design with the microfiber sewn on each end, but loose in the middle makes for quick drying when turned inside-out. But I did have to add extra absorbency to these to make them work, so again, not a true AIO.

Thirsties AIO~ It didn't take long for me to realize these things didn't hold a lot of pee. As with the GAD and DryBees, I had to add extra doublers/soakers to make them hold for more than one pee. So the one I had was sold quickly.

Mums Bums~ A surprisingly cool AIO. These are spendy, but they work really well. The soaker design is really cool- a big soaker on top, sewn at one end for quick drying. Under that is a hemp strip doubler sewn at the other end, which lays in the wet zone. I could use these for naps without a doubler, and I really liked the function of them! If they were cheaper, they would be one of my favorites.

Dream-Eze (old version)~ I didn't try the new version, but the old one was like floss on my little guy's bum. It was so trim in the crotch that it just created a horrible fit on my his chunky backside. I don't know how they fit on taller/thinner babies, but whew, I didn't use these long!

Bottombumpers~ Narrow crotch and side snaps... If you've been reading this far, you'll know that these were destined to fail for my "pee out the side" chunkster. Cool design, but I didn't like how the doublers didn't seem to fit into the diaper- they had to be tucked inside when putting on, and didn't instill confidence in mama. ;)

Mommy's Touch~ I used these almost exclusively when I first found AIOs. I like the way the doubler snaps in the front, and the design is good. I never did figure out the snapping down to size this one-size diaper... haha. Topped with microfleece, and the soakers are microfiber (two things I'm no longer a fan of), but pretty absorbent and leak-free for what they're made of!

What I never tried, but still feel tempted to try, is BumGenius organic AIOs. I rarely use AIOs anymore- really only for going out when I need a trim fit, but I feel like I haven't run the gambit until I've tried these. ;)

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

I no longer use pockets... But I used them exclusively for a while, so I thought I'd share my experiences with the brands I tried.

BumGenius 3.0~ The ever-popular mainstream diaper. These worked well, they almost never leaked, and were easy to stuff. I wasn't a fan of the suedecloth lining- it definitely held stains! And the microfiber that came with it, well, they just didn't hold enough. BUT, with the Cottonbabies microfiber insert AND a hemp insert, these were a good nighttime diaper for my little guy. Of course, he could wear the diaper in the third setting (no snapping) when he was 3 months old! I knew they wouldn't last him past a year, given how big my kids get. And the aplix on these was just awful- wore out really quickly. A good diaper... just not good for longevity.

Fuzzi Bunz~ For some reason I couldn't stand these diapers. It was something about the way the fleece lining had to be tucked in at the back, and it was just annoying to me. Some people like them, I did not.

Green Acre Designs (GAD)~ I would have absolutely LOVED these pockets if it hadn't been for my son peeing RIGHT out the snaps! We quickly learned that he can't wear side-snapping diapers. But these were well-made, and I loved the way they fit!

Wahmies~ I had the s-hook diapers, and I loved them. I thought they were great pockets! Other people hated the s-hook because they said they took too long to hook, but I didn't mind the extra 2 seconds. Of course, I took my son for his doctors appointment, and the doctor insisted on taking off/putting on the diaper himself, which made me giggle- it took him about 2 minutes! LOL Overall, a good pocket, and with a hemp insert, I found them the same as BumGenius- but with a better chance of lasting through potty-learning.

Happy Heiny~ Ugh. I was not a fan. The aplix was thick and awkward, and made the waist just look huge. I also had lots of leaks with these.

Blueberry Deluxe~ This diaper wasn't bad, but it wasn't my favorite. It worked well, and I would compare it to BumGenius, but at a higher price, so not really worth the extra money.

Snap-Ez Econappi~ Surprisingly, my favorite diaper. Absolutely no frills, just a plain, straight-forward pocket. But had a great fit on my little guy. I did find that they ran small, so he wore a large at 4 months old (but he's a huge baby anyway). I could use these at night with a microfiber and hemp insert, and they never leaked. Great pockets!

Swaddlebees Organic Velour~ I really liked this diaper- I only had one of them. They worked well and had a great fit. But also a high price tag. Still, I would say this was my second favorite pocket. I would give it higher points because of the organic velour, which I like- but it stained like crazy.

Friday, February 20, 2009

I had such a fun trip to the mailbox today! I got my second set of giraffe prints- blue ice diaper, cover, and tshirt that match. Plus my second grass giraffes diaper. And my custom swirl-dyed diapers came- they're so soft and pretty! AND, my ultimate happiness- a Smurf diaper from Bagshot Row Bamboo!!!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Wow! So, I'm officially feeling a bit slow.... Why did no one ever tell me how much money/power/frustration/diapers I could have saved if I used a drying rack?

I got my rack so I could sun diapers... But have discovered how awesome it is at drying diapers! I know, DUH! But really... I would have to run my diapers in the dryer for two "More Dry" cycles before- and sometimes they would still be damp! Now, I hang them overnight on my drying rack, and the next day, I throw them in the dryer for a "Less Dry" cycle, and they're DONE! It saves me all of the things in the title!

Hey, I look dumb for not realizing this before, but thought I would share in case anyone else hasn't invested in a rack yet. ;)

Something has been bugging me. My little guy is a big super-soaker. He can soak through a microfiber insert in one pee. So when an all-in-one diaper has a thin microfiber insert in it as it's soaker, that is not an AIO to me. If I have to stuff it with something else, then I may as well buy a pocket diaper- which are usually cheaper.

Two big culprits that I tried: Green Acre Designs (GAD) and Thirsties AIOs. Both of these have a little microfiber insert, with the option of stuffing with additional inserts. But my guy couldn't wear these for more than 30 minutes without hemp stuffed in with them! Totally defeats the purpose of an all-in-one diaper if it can't be used alone.

If you have a "tinkle" baby, then they could work for you. But if you have a "tell Noah to start his ark, the flood is coming!" baby, then don't expect these to be AIOs for you. ;)

Monday, February 9, 2009

I really should have taken before and after pictures of my diapers. The bamboo seems to stain like crazy, and my washing wasn't getting the stains out. So I bought this wooden rack and some clips, and set it up.

Being in Washington State, we have 40-degree weather this time of year, and not a lot of sun. I placed this in front of my window a couple days ago, and it has take the stains out of all my diapers! I'm truly amazed. I knew people used the sun, but I had no idea it would work so well!

My previously stained diapers now look like new again! :D And it's also a great way to air-dry the diapers. I just fluff them up in the dryer afterward to get them soft.

So just because you live somewhere that has cold or cloudy weather, it doesn't mean you can't use the sun to get the stains out of your diapers! :)

Pins! He has pins on his diaper!!! It wasn't even that hard... I ran the pins through Northern Essence salve before I put them through the diaper, and they just slid through! No pokes for Mommy or Baby! YAY!

(Now, please tell me why he's always wearing dark socks when I take these pictures? I promise I take them off once in a while!) ;)

Friday, February 6, 2009

What happened? I never thought I would like fitteds, and I always thought, "Why would anyone bother with them?" And now.... Well.... As you can see, I've built quite a collection!

I still have 6 more fitteds on the way... and 3 more diapers that aren't pictured here.

So, the reviews:

* Bagshot Row Bamboo (BSRB) ($20, but hard to buy them)~ very soft diapers, very trim. They're not the most absorbent I have, but they hold up through a pee or two. I rarely use them because I'm not a fan of Snappis or pins. But they're definitely cute! My favorite thing about them is that they're turned and topstitched, which makes them easier on the baby's legs.

* Kiwi Pie ($25)~ Trim diapers made of very soft bamboo inners. The snaps on them are perfect. They're about the same absorbency as the BSRBs. The prints are so adorable!

* Sunseedlings ($13-$15 for custom)~ These are beautifully made, and very affordable for fitteds. The insides are just beautiful- she makes the lay-in soaker with the back of it matching the outer fabric. I ordered the night diapers- 3 layers of hemp, I believe- so they're not the trimmest diapers. But they fit well and hold quite a bit.

* CuddleBuns ($25, but I got seconds for $15)~ I haven't gotten to try these ON yet, but they sure are cute! VERY soft material, and obviously well-made. They look really cute, and I can't wait to try them on my little guy.

* PeeWells ($10-15 depending on size)~ These diapers are the most absorbent of the regular fitteds I have. Cute prints, well made. She sometimes sews the internal soaker with the same stitching as the diaper, which makes them easy to match up. The prints are cute, and the snaps are great. The snake soaker takes some getting used to, but it helps make these diapers hold a lot, and to me, that's worth it! I love these!

* Holden's Landing Bedbugs ($31-33)~ Soft, very stretchy material. The snaps are very adjustable, and these diapers really do hold up well overnight. I had mine made with OBV/OBV (organic bamboo velour) and had them dyed. Very pretty diapers. They hold a ton, without being TOO bulky. An awesome nighttime solution.

* Sustainablebabyish "Magic Diaper" ($31)~ This diaper isn't pictured. These are awesome for nights. They have soakers sewn on each end, and come with an extra doubler. They are stretchy and absorbent. Plain, natural color- but it's a night diaper, so who sees it? I add yet another doubler in these for my little guy to go 12 hours, and it's STILL not overly bulky, even with 4 doublers/soakers inside! Truly a magic diaper.

Monday, February 2, 2009

I was feeling daring, so I tried a fitted diaper with a wool cover over it, and then a pair of microfleece pants to finish it off. I was nervous about it, but thought the combo of wool and fleece would at least keep the pee in while we were out this evening.

No such luck.

Both my husband and I ended up with wet spots on our sides from where we had him sitting on our hips. :P

Fitteds and covers work well for at home during the day, but my little water fountain can't get by with them for longer than an hour!

I'll stick with my Bum-Ware Extremes for when we leave the house- pee-soaked shirts are not becoming! ;)

Friday, January 30, 2009

I'm no longer afraid of it! It's so much easier than I thought it would be!!!

The key to wool care is not to "shock" the wool by extreme temperatures- either too hot or too cold. That can shrink the wool- and we don't want to do that!

I read this great tutorial about how to care for wool, and it was funny as well as informative. I, not being cocky enough to think I could do better, will just pass on the link, rather than make my own instructions! :D

http://www.diaperpin.com/clothdiapers/article_howtolanolizewool.asp

The only things I did differently were to use a "wool wash" and a liquid lanolin- both made by Northern Essence. They made my wool smell nice- bonus!

Don't be afraid of wool! It's a beautiful, soft, natural, breathable material. Not to mention that there is some CUTE wool available out there!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Oh squishy softness! Your cute prints, how I love thee! Your leg holes are so gentle, I have planets, I have bees! I love the way you Snappi I love your material within! Now, if only I could be brave enough To use you with a pin!!!

Monday, January 19, 2009

I've gotten over my wool willies- I'm going to try it! Now if I can just keep from making it grow sheep by getting it wet or something (think Gremlins)... I have two wool covers coming- Luxe and Sugar Peas- to try over my new fitteds. I'm nervous, but excited!

We can do it..... right? Wait, I mean- Yes, I'm sure we can do it! (Did that sound at all convincing?)

Sunday, January 18, 2009

I started out with pocket diapers, moved on to all-in-one (AIO) diapers, and now I'm entering the realm of fitteds with covers! This week I'll be trying out:* Bagshot Row Bamboo (I have three coming! YAY!) http://hyenacart.com/BagshotRowBamboo/* Muttaqin Baby- Babyshaped and 3SR http://www.muttaqinbaby.com/* Holden's Landing Bedbugs (I already have one going right now!) http://hyenacart.com/HoldensLanding/

I also have some Mother-Ease Sandy's and Nana's Bottoms coming.

I'm still looking for a Goodmama and a Sustainablebabyish that I can afford- they're spendy!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Is Tide recommended by cloth diaper manufacturers? No. Why not? Because it can break down the PUL in pockets and AIOs, and the elastic in covers, AIOs and pockets. The reason it is "harsh" on diapers is because it contains additives.

I've been reading a lot lately about how peoples' diapers were giving out after a year- and many people asking about replacing ruined elastic and parts of their diapers. Cloth diapers don't last forever... There's not much that does.

Now my thinking is this: You can use Tide, and get your diapers clean and stain-free. It seems to eliminate the need for "stripping" in most cases- that means no bleach, vinegar, baking soda, etc. No need for tons of hot washes and rinses to get rid of build-up. No worrying about how to strip diapers that have stains or stinkies. To me, the regular stripping has to be harder on the diapers than the detergent is.

So when I was deciding if I'd take the leap to Tide instead of sticking with my other more "diaper safe" detergents, I asked myself this question: Would I rather have a simple wash routine where I use one detergent and it gets my diapers CLEAN, stain- and-stink-free, or would I rather use something milder so I can possibly extend the life of my diapers a little bit?

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

"Re-Stashing". This is what happens when you have tried a BUNCH of different types of diapers, decided what you like, and get rid of the ones you don't like. I'm in the process of re-stashing at the moment. I have HALF the diapers I had before- if that!- and I have lots more diapers coming in the mail! (My poor postal delivery person.... I get a couple packages in the mail every day!)

Cloth-diapering is like a science experiment... Some diapers work great off the bat, some have to be modified so that they work, and some just won't work, after much trial and error. I've spent $50 (a-hem... possibly a little more than that, but in case my husband reads this, I don't want to give him a heart attack with the real number) buying a stash, I sell it for a little more than half what I paid, and then I re-stash at full price again. Perhaps it's a math problem more than a science experiment: How much does it cost Stacy to re-stash, if she makes back half of what she buys them for, and does this 8 times. The answer? I'd probably rather not know!!! ;)

Sunday, January 11, 2009

After 2 uses, my Lyv Naturally dryer balls (on the left) are falling apart- shedding everywhere all over my diapers and laundry. They smell GREAT, and will from now on be "air freshener balls" in my laundry room. ;)

My Buddha Bunz balls are doing GREAT. After 2 uses, the middle balls hardy show wear and are working great. The balls on the right are the Buddha Bunz I've been using for a while- at least 20 uses- and they still look great! They took a long time to get to me, but were worth the wait! :D

Saturday, January 10, 2009

It was bound to happen... I kept buying these expensive inserts and doublers for the diapers, and I thought, "I bet I could make these myself." So I ordered supplies (various hemp and bamboo materials) and I went to it!

Tonight I made a 4-layer heavy bamboo fleece insert, a 2-layer fleece doubler with bamboo velour on top (SO SOFT!) and a second, smaller doubler. I don't own a serger, so I just top-stitched the fabric and trimmed the edges. Hey, not horrible for a first try! They may not be pretty, but I bet they'll work!

*Note* You might see a follow-up post where I'm crying about how they don't work. ;)

Friday, January 9, 2009

When you have cloth diapers, you have to have a place to put them. With disposables, you just buy a plastic bag at a time and then replace them when that bag runs out. When you have cloth, they need a nice "home". :)

This is where I keep mine. Now, mind you, there are over 30 diapers missing from this picture (please refer to the "addiction" post further down).

I like to organize my inserts/doublers by type- hemp, bamboo, and microfiber. And then I have a bin for different types of diapers, too- pockets, hybrids, all-in-ones, night diapers, and trim "going out" diapers.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Last week I got an email from one of my favorite sellers- Rachel at Two Little Whales- saying I had won her surprise package. She personalized it for me, and sent it out. It was SO MUCH FUN to open a package of free stuff! And she was VERY generous!

So... I realize that I've become somewhat of an addict when it comes to cloth diapers... I use the term "somewhat" loosely. I think of diapers, I dream of diapers, and when I have some extra money, what do I want to buy? Yep, you guessed it! Diapers.

It's gotten so bad that when it's a non-wash day (I was every other day) I'm kind of disappointed. And when my little guy poops, I don't argue with my husband about whose turn it is to change the diaper like I used to with my other kids in their "sposies". I look forward to poops, so that I can put a new diaper on him and use my cloth wipes.

I am a little bit in love with these diapers, which is strange considering that the first time I used one, I wrote to cancel the other ones I had on order. My first experience was horrible leakage... But since then, I've used these for HOURS with no leaks, and I love them!

These are the trimmest AIO I have tried- they fit under jeans or tight pants, and don't look much bigger than a disposable diaper! If I can get the pants over my son's chunky thighs, I can get it over this diaper. It's so thin, and yet so absorbent!

Admittedly, I add a doubler- just a small bamboo doubler- in this if I want to go over 2 hours with this diaper, but that's just for reassurance. I think the diaper could go longer!

The aplix are GREAT, and I have one of the snap versions, too- also GREAT. These just look so cute, and come in such GREAT colors that you can customize!

Cost is upwards of $18 per diaper, but in my opinion- they're worth every penny!

My rating: 5 out of 5. Absorbent, Cute, Very Trim, Sturdy, and just Awesome!

Oh, the joys of finding a new diaper that works! And these little things don't instill confidence when you first pick one up- the insides are made of 100% cotton, and you think to yourself that there's no way they will be absorbent. But alas! You think wrongly!

These fit trimly, they look cute, and they absorb a deceivingly large amount of pee! And with the ultimate test- runny baby poo- they hold true and don't leak.

Will this diaper last all night as-is? No. But throw in a doubler or two, and you might have a workhorse diaper on your hands! In my experience, when I add a doubler, it draws the rise down too much and creates plumber's crack on my little guy, so I couldn't trust it for nights.

Cost is $18, shipped, from the manufacturer. The nice thing is that these diapers fit a wide weight range- the mediums fit up to 30 pounds!

I give these diapers a rating of: 4 out of 5... Absorbent, Cute, Wash Well, Great Sizing, but not Night-Worthy

Oh the horrors... You've just gotten your new cloth diapers, and it's time to do the dreaded "hard cloth diapers" washing!!! So what do you use?

With regular laundry, whatever you pick up at the grocery store is probably going to work. With cloth diapers, it's a bit more difficult than that! If you use the wrong thing on your diapers, you can cause them to repel (make pee run off of them) or to wick (leak out the legs) or to stink!

Okay, so there has to be a hard-set rule of what's safe and not safe to use, right? Well, not really, unfortunately. The hard-set rules are like this: don't use perfumed detergents, detergents with additives, optical brighteners, or enzymes. And NEVER use fabric softeners. Bleach is controversial... some people use it without problems, but most say it's a diaper no-no.

Some companies and brands recommend using Free & Clear detergents, while others say definitely NOT to use them. Some say use the popular brand Charlie's Soap, while others have reported that Charlie's can cause severe rashes in babies- OUCH.

I've tried lots of detergents: Mountain Green, Planet Ultra, All Free & Clear... I wasn't happy with any of the results of those. I ended up with stains and stinkies- two things you don't want with diapers! The diapers just didn't seem CLEAN. So what did I do? I started using Tide HE in my front-loading washer. It contains lots of no-nos... enzymes, brighteners, and scents. But my diapers have never looked cleaner, and smelled so good! Lots of people use Tide for years without problems. Until I see a problem, I plan to keep using it. I can't officially recommend it... but I can say: It works for us! :)

Well, my husband giggles like an 8-year-old boy every time I say "dryer balls", but I still think they're fun.

The point of dryer balls is to help make your laundry (in this case- diapers) dry faster and fluff them up to soften them. They don't help with static like dryer sheets do... but since you're not supposed to use dryer sheets with cloth diapers, these are a fun alternative!

You can buy them lightly scented, which will actually make your laundry smell nice. The scent doesn't last a very long time, but you can re-scent them with essential oils or fragrance oils.

People use 2-9 balls in their dryers at a time. And yes, they *DO* make a thumping sound while drying!!! ;)

It took me a long time to have this baby... After my two older kids were born, I lost 6 pregnancies, had 13 foster placements come and go, and was told we could adopt a baby, only to have the mother change her mind. I knew when I *FINALLY* had my baby, I would want to pamper him/her!

I started researching cloth-diapering about 2 years ago. I am a bit OCD (obsessive-compulsive) when it comes to researching, and I pretty much learned all I could about buying, washing, fitting, etc.

And then in September of 2008, I was able to start putting my knowledge into experience! I started using cloth diapers on my little miracle baby, and I've enjoyed every second of it!

I think of it as a hobby... a very fun- sometimes expensive- hobby. I ENJOY doing laundry- I am disappointed on non-wash days. When my other kids had poopy diapers, my husband and I used to argue about whose turn it was to change them. Now, when my little guy poops, I get excited to change him. Yep! It's like that!!! :D